Abstract

A 7-year-old girl was referred with a history of recurrent chest and upper respiratory tract infections since infancy. She had a chronic productive cough without features of asthma (e.g. worsening at night or with activity) and marked nasal symptoms (blocked nose, rhinorrhoea). Further history revealed no specific allergies although there was a vague history of atopy. The girl's mother had chronic sinusitis. The patient's stools were normal in consistency and frequency. Another major complaint pertained to her 'slowness'. Her mother noted that she was sometimes off balance.